Finding the right images for your marketing materials or website might seem like a simple enough task, after all the internet is full of pictures! But image licensing can be a tricky topic. And unless you have a degree in copyright law, or at the very least a basic understanding of the difference between rights managed and royalty free images, you could find yourself in hot water due to incorrect use of a particular image.

Rights Managed Images

To put it very simply, a rights managed image is a one payment/one use deal. So if you purchase the image for use on your business cards and then decide you’d like to use it on your corporate brochure or family Christmas card, you will need to purchase another license for the same image.

Royalty Free Images

In contrast, royalty free images allow the buyer (you!) to use the image multiple times and for a range of different uses, so once you have purchased the image you could use it on your business website, company banner, business cards and blog without incurring any additional charges.

Which One Will Work For You?

The biggest advantage of rights managed images is that they are generally better quality and you’ll find a wider range of images to choose from. This means you’re much less likely to end up with the exact same picture as everyone else in your industry.

If your budget is a big concern, then royalty free is a better option but be warned: you could end up with images or concepts that people have seen a hundred times before.

Ultimately, if you’re using the image to complement a blog post then royalty free is fine, but if you’re purchasing an image for use as part of a wider branding strategy for your business, then it might be worth paying extra for a rights managed picture with exclusivity.